heritage

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. your family's history, including where they came from and their ethnic background.

n. the ethnic, linguistic, or social background of a person's ancestors. Often used as a modifier in phrases like 'heritage speaker'.

“She is of Italian heritage and grew up speaking both English and Italian at home.”

“The university offers specialized courses for heritage learners who have a high level of oral proficiency but limited formal training in their family's native language.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal

n. property or money that is passed down to you when someone dies.

n. property, assets, or status that may be inherited by legal right or succession.

“The old estate was part of his family heritage, passed down for three centuries.”

“The legal dispute centered on whether the ancestral lands constituted a part of the indivisible heritage of the firstborn son.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun American English

n. used to describe older types of plants or animals that are not used in modern industrial farming.

n. denoting traditional varieties of seeds, plants, or animal breeds that were common before the advent of industrial agriculture. Used attributively.

“The farmer grows heritage tomatoes because they have much more flavor than supermarket ones.”

“The conservation project aims to protect heritage breeds of sheep that are better adapted to the local climate than modern commercial varieties.”